This Saturday morning, 29 June 2019, United Airlines flight UA2098 (Airbus A319 reg. N837UA) from New York La Guardia to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport blew two tyres during take-off. The pilots reported a brake problem, called an emergency and proceeded to the nearest airport, Newark Liberty International.
Friction in the wheel apparently created some smoke: the fire brigade attended the landing on runway 22L. The plane was evacuated on the runway itself at 08:46 via the slides, not without some selfish passengers taking their hand luggage with them and slowing the evacuation process.
Newark airport was shut down for about an hour and several planes were diverted to surrounding airports.
The Airport’s official Twitter account said shortly before 09:00 (UTC -4) that “due to an airport emergency there are currently no arrivals nor departures from Newark Airport.”
[29.06-16:20] #Aeroporto #Newark-Liberty #EWR #NewJersey #NewYork
EVACUATO CON SCIVOLI DOPO EMERGENZA #aereo #Airbus A319-131 United Airlines volo #UA2098
Photo: @jmurray26 pic.twitter.com/HMlsDjZ08W— Emergenza24 (@Emergenza24) 29 juin 2019